Euphemia Falls from the Sky (5.5K) (Continued)

"N-nothing."

Suzaku Kururugi sat on the ground, clutching her bleeding nose.

If he hadn't seen the girl land safely on the ground, he would have suspected that she was deliberately picking a fight with him.

Mahiro ignored Suzaku Kururugi and turned his gaze to the girl in front of him who was bowing and apologizing repeatedly. Her long, fluffy pink hair cascaded down her back.

Looking up, I saw a bed sheet swaying in the wind on the windowsill, which was about the fourth floor.

"I say, after all these years, what are you up to, my dear princess? Did a delicate flower fall from the sky?"

Mahiro couldn't help but secretly admire Euphemia li Britannia's audacity.

Falling from that height, even a normal man would likely suffer fatal or permanent injury, right?

At the very least, they would be completely paralyzed or in a vegetative state.

Not to mention the slender and delicate princess in front of them.

This only made him more impressed, realizing just how strong Suzaku Kururugi's physical abilities were, that he was able to catch a girl falling from the fourth floor.

I, Yotsuba Mahiro, hereby declare you the strongest in this world!

"Hey hey hey?"

Being suddenly addressed as "Your Highness" made Euphemia li Britannia tremble, thinking her escape had been discovered. However, she quickly realized what was happening, and her heart pounded wildly.

The flippant, almost joking tone, and the voice, reminded her of someone.

Euphemia li Britannia quickly raised her head and involuntarily widened her blue-gold eyes, looking at the tall man in front of her with surprise.

Memories that had been buried deep in my heart for many years gradually surfaced before my eyes, one by one.

The figure in my memory gradually overlapped with the man in front of me.

Familiar dark eyes, familiar short black hair.

He was still dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit, the well-fitting uniform perfectly showcasing his slender figure, and his smile remained as gentle as ever.

She exudes a charming aura of composure and confidence.

"... Shin- Mahiro- sensei? Is it really you Mahiro- sensei? Euphemia li Britannia isn't dreaming, is she?!"

Euphemia asked cautiously, as innocent childhood memories flooded back, filling the pure-hearted princess with excitement.

I was also a little scared.

She was afraid she had mistaken someone for someone else, and even more afraid that this was all a dream!

After all, that Mr. Mahiro has been missing for so many years, and yet, after all that time, nothing has changed at all...

"Oh dear, has Your Highness not recognized me after only a few short years? I'm suddenly a little sad..."

Mahiro shrugged, feigning sadness and grievance.

"It really is... it really is you, Mahiro- sensei... Waaaaa!!"

After hearing Mahiro's confession, Euphemia could no longer bear it.

She suddenly lunged forward and threw herself into Mahiro's arms, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, two streams of pearls falling uncontrollably, soaking Mahiro's clothes.

Mahiro also took a small half-step back as a buffer, completely unexpected that Euphemia would pounce on him, and with unexpected strength.

If it were someone with Lelouch's weak physique, he would probably be tackled to the ground on the spot.

Meanwhile, Suzaku Kururugi, covering his nose, watched awkwardly as the two embraced, the girl's joyful cries occasionally echoing in his mind.

For some reason, even though it was the first time he had met this girl, Suzaku Kururugi always felt a faint sadness when he saw her crying in another man's arms.

Euphemia Li. Buntania.

If you had to describe this girl in one word, nothing would be more fitting than gentle, kind, and innocent.

With delicate features, a pretty nose, and an air of nobility tinged with a touch of childishness, her fine, pale pink hair danced in the breeze, the ends shimmering in the dazzling sunlight.

As the third princess of the Holy Britannian Empire, one of the world's three superpowers, she, at the age of sixteen, which should have been spent living a school life, became the vice governor of the colony of Area 11 with the emperor's permission, out of her own will.

Although the appointment order had not yet been announced in her home country, she had arrived on this land long ago.

This is the place where her brother Clovis died.

Unfortunately, her secret trip to Area 11 to take up her post was accidentally discovered by her older sister Cornelia.

They were given a forced stay-at-home order.

But how could she, who longed to truly see this land, willingly be confined?

So he boldly escaped from the mansion.

So, while escaping, he accidentally fell out of the window, leading to the scene just now.

"So, you're really bold, aren't you?"

"Hehe, it's all thanks to what you taught me, teacher."

Euphemia wiped away the tears of excitement from the corners of her eyes, and chuckled somewhat shyly, a blush gradually appearing on her fair cheeks.

This left Mahiro speechless.

He did indeed teach Euphemia li Britannia a lot back then, such as cultivating independent thinking.

However, this does not include free climbing of buildings.

Besides...

"Euphemia li Britannia, you snuck out, didn't you?"

"Ah!"

Upon hearing his words, Euphemia li Britannia suddenly realized what he meant, and a real commotion broke out inside the mansion.

Princess Euphemia li Britannia has disappeared!

"Quickly, hurry up and go out to look for them!"

"Yes!"

Soldiers were assembling in the courtyard, conducting a thorough search of the mansion for any trace of Euphemia li Britannia.

She hurriedly grabbed Mahiro's hand, saying anxiously, "Teacher, please take me away from here quickly, it won't be good if we're discovered."

"Yes, yes, my lovely princess."

As a teacher, there's no reason not to grant a student's request.

But just as they were about to set off, Euphemia li Britannia suddenly stopped him.

"Teacher, let's bring him along too."

Euphemia li Britannia was referring to Suzaku Kururugi, who was still sitting on the ground.

It must be said that Euphemia li Britannia was very thoughtful, because the window of the fourth-floor dormitory was open. If the soldiers discovered it, then Suzaku Kururugi, who was standing in front of the mansion, would be arrested again as a suspect who had abducted the deputy governor of Area 11.

It's a second time.

Although he really wanted to, and even looked forward to, this scene, he finally softened when he saw Euphemia li Britannia's pitiful appearance.

"Alright, I'll take you along too."

As he spoke, he grabbed Suzaku Kururugi by the collar.

"Wait..."

Mahiro as Suzaku Kururugi was about to speak, Mahiro, carrying Euphemia li Britannia in one arm and him in the other, immediately started running.

When the Britannia soldiers poured out of the mansion, they had already disappeared from sight.

While the soldiers were searching for Euphemia's whereabouts, Mahiro had already led the two to a park some distance from the mansion to rest.

Euphemia li Britannia sat on a park bench, her long, slender legs crossed to the side.

Today, she wasn't wearing the glamorous court dress I remembered, but rather a simple high-necked dress that perfectly accentuated her flawless figure.

Her slightly immature face was adorned with light makeup, and her hair was pulled back in a bun, making this sixteen-year-old girl appear much more mature.

She wore light pink high heels that matched the color of her hair on her delicate feet. Combined with her already tall figure, Euphemia li Britannia was taller than most men in Area 11.

Even when seated on a bench, her slender figure exuded an elegant royal majesty.

As for Suzaku Kururugi, he was coughing and panting heavily at the moment.

His face, tanned somewhat dark, now showed a paleness from excessive blood loss.

It was obvious that he was being strangled by his collar; because he had been grabbed by the back of his collar while running, he was still a little short of oxygen to his head.

While Mahiro's actions were somewhat convenient, they were also somewhat driven by personal grudges.

"Where are we going next, Euphemia li Britannia?"

Mahiro ignored Suzaku Kururugi's meaning and turned to look at Euphemia li Britannia.

After all, being able to help this guy escape from the mansion was already more than enough.

"Hmm... There are indeed some places I want to go. I've always heard about Area 11 when I was in this country, so I've always wanted to see for myself what kind of place Area 11 is."

But before that..."

Euphemia li Britannia suddenly stopped speaking and turned to look at Suzaku Kururugi, who was sitting on the ground and had caught his breath.

"You must be Suzaku Kururugi... Lord? Right?"

What a strange form of address, combining the name and military rank, and adding something like "sir".

However, Suzaku Kururugi, whose name was called, didn't care about anything else. He quickly stood up and straightened his back, not even paying attention to the trickle of blood flowing from his nostrils.

"Yes, Your Highness, I..."

Just as Suzaku Kururugi was about to salute, he suddenly remembered that he had been stripped of his military rank and was now just an ordinary civilian. He stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

"There's no need to be so nervous."

Seeing Suzaku Kururugi's awkward and comical appearance, Euphemia li Britannia gave her a pure and gentle smile.

This smile left Suzaku Kururugi stunned.

He had overheard their conversation and already knew the pink-haired girl's identity.

Although I was surprised, as she seemed completely different from the princesses and governors I had in mind, she was indeed a genuine Britannia princess, and the soon-to-be-appointed deputy governor.

It even reminded him of Lelouch and Nunnally.

"Please wipe it clean, Suzaku Kururugi."

Mahiro suddenly spoke, interrupting Suzaku Kururugi's reverie and handing him a tissue.

As Suzaku Kururugi accepted the thanks, Mahiro spoke up again:

"Since that's the case, let me introduce myself as well."

"My name is Mahiro Britannia, but I prefer to use the name Yotsuba Mahiro. I was formerly a tutor to the royal family of Britannia and am currently a teacher at the Ashford Academy."

"Zi... Britannia... Yotsuba Clan... Are you an honorary Britannia?" Suzaku Kururugi asked, somewhat shocked.

No, if they were honorary Britannia, how could they have a royal surname?

However, judging from their appearance, they certainly don't look like they are of Britannia mixed race.

And another thing is, she looks about the same age as me, yet she was once a tutor in the royal family...?

If that's the case, wouldn't that mean...?

"That's pretty much it, and you guessed right, I am indeed Lelouch and Nunnally's teacher."

Mahiro's eyes seemed to see right through Suzaku Kururugi's thoughts.

This time, however, it wasn't Suzaku Kururugi who was shocked, but Euphemia. She gently covered her mouth, blinked, looked at Mahiro, and couldn't help but ask:

"Mahiro, Lelouch and Nunnally... they're really still alive, right?"